It's only natural to have some questions about the Cathedral Gowns process, so to try and help we've answered some of the most commonly asked ones below. If there's a question we haven't answered, please let us know by contacting us.

DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT?Appointments are required for all departments. As we work on a one-to-one basis, and with only one bridal suite, it is impossible to allow self service. We strive to provide great service in a comfortable atmosphere, our private studio allows us to give a personal consultation and a fabulous experience. We can sometimes accommodate walk-ins, but appointments will always have preference. We may be able to accommodate later in the day so can give you an approximate return time.
First visit bridal appointments last for one and a half hours, second visit and bridesmaid appointments are for one hour.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME TO MY APPOINTMENT?
An open mind! We encourage you to try on every style of gown, even if it is the opposite of what you have in mind. Wear underwear you are happy to be seen in, and ideally a strapless bra. Style your hair and wear some make-up, so you feel confident in the gowns and get a better idea of how you will look on the day. Please don't wear fake tan, as its very difficult to remove from fabrics. You might also wish to bring pictures or sketches of the kind of dresses you like, as this can help us to identify your style.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I BRING WITH ME?Try not to bring more than three people with you, as too many opinions can be difficult to deal with. When shopping for your gown you need to be able to focus and concentrate without distractions. Choose people who love you and your experience will be much more enjoyable and successful. Choose your accompanying decision makers wisely, strong opinions are good, but don't invite someone who is likely to try to bully you into a dress that is their version of your wedding, rather than yours. Ensure they understand what your perfect dress criteria are, but remember that the only opinion that matters is yours – you are the only one who can really know when the dress you are wearing is the one!

CAN I BRING CHILDREN TO MY APPOINTMENT?
Yes, of course, we welcome children, all we ask is that you keep them under control. Please be aware that a bridal boutique is not the safest place for little ones, with hazards such as loose pins, beads and unstable mirrors. You may find a little one requires a lot of entertaining and may distract you from the important task of finding your wedding gown. If they are being fitted for a gown, we ask that you dress them or are present in the changing room with them.

HOW FAR IN ADVANCE MUST I PLACE AN ORDER?
You will need to start looking for your wedding gown 9-12 months before your wedding, and aim to have it ordered around 7-8 months before. Gowns take between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 months to order in and we like to have them in store 4-6 weeks before your wedding for fittings. If you do not have enough time you can avail of a rush cut service for an additional fee. We advise that you chose your wedding gown before you chose your bridesmaid dresses or any of your accessories.

WHAT IF I PLAN TO LOSE WEIGHT?
We will order your dress according to your measurements at the time of order, due to the fact that it is much easier to take a dress down a size than to make it bigger. Don't worry, most dresses are designed to be taken in by up to three sizes.

DO YOU OFFER ALTERATIONS?We currently do not offer in-house alterations. You are more than welcome to use our facilities for fittings with the seamstress of your choice. We have arrangements with local seamstresses - please ask at your appointment if you would like more information.

WILL YOU STORE MY WEDDING GOWN/ BRIDESMAID GOWNS?
We are unfortunately unable to store customers items on site, due to space and insurance restrictions.

DO YOU PRODUCE A CATALOGUE?
We have a massive selective of gowns, and new styles arriving all the time, and as such it is impossible to produce an up-to-date printed catalogue.

WHAT SIZE DRESSES DO YOU STOCK?
We stock gowns from size 8 to size 26, and have gowns available to a size 32. The majority of our sample gowns are sizes 14, 16 and 18.

WHAT PRICE RANGE ARE YOUR DRESSES?
Our wedding gowns range in price from £795 -£1650. Advise your consultant of your budget and she will help you find a fabulous designer gown that fits your style, your figure and your budget. If your budget is lower we can still accommodate you, as we often have 'stock gowns' available at substantial savings.

HOW MUCH OF A DEPOSIT DO I NEED TO PAY?Standard deposits are 50% of the dress price, however if your wedding is more than 10 months away you can spread the cost with a payment plan.

ARE THERE ANY EXTRA CHARGES?
Manufacturers charge extra for larger sizes, special lengths, design changes and rush deliveries.

WHAT IF I FIND A DRESS THAT I LOVE BUT I AM NOT READY TO BUY YET?If you are absolutely sure that this is your dress but your wedding isn’t for a while, then we have several options. We can order the gown on deferred delivery, so that we wont receive it until closer to your wedding, or you can start a payment plan to accrue the deposit. If you love the dress but need to show it to your mum or sister before you can decide, just let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. If you are not 100% sure that it is the dress that you want, but you don’t want to miss out on it if it is discontinued, then let us know and we can make sure to alert you if we receive a discontinuation notice for the dress.

I LIKE A GOWN BY ONE OF YOUR DESIGNERS BUT YOU DONT HAVE IT IN STOCK, CAN YOU GET IT?
We can usually get the gown on loan so that you can try it on. There is a one off fee that covers postage costs and is often redeemable against your gown purchase.

DO YOU PROVIDE SWATCHES FOR MATCHING COLOURS?
Many of our designers provide swatches free of charge, however some of our designers charge a small fee to cover the cost of the fabric and postage. If you require a swatch, please let us know and we can arrange it for you.